Holden Barina Problems

It’s most unusual for a fuel-injected car to suffer from fuel vaporisation as you suggest your daughter’s does. Check the fuel pump, make sure the fuel return line is not blocked, and check to see the fuel lines are not too close to the exhaust. It can also be affected if the car is running hot for some reason, so make sure the cooling system is up to scratch.

There are any number of possible reasons, from a shot battery to a faulty starter, and a multitude of other things in between. Take it to a mechanic and have it checked.

It could be a number of things, bearings being one, but I would suggest you have a mechanic drive it to tell you with more certainty. I doubt you would need a new gearbox.

He shouldn’t have done anything without disconnecting the battery. The computer is the component that senses a crash situation and moving it has caused it to set off the airbags. My view is that it’s the mechanic’s problem.

It has a timing belt, which has a recommended change interval of 10 years or 160,000 km whichever comes first.

You can’t. It’s filled with fluid in the factory and that’s it for the life of the car. If you want it checked or changed an automatic transmission mechanic could do it for you.

The Holden Spark has been discontinued in Australia, with the company citing low volume as the main issue. But if that doesn't deter you, it's still a solid buy at under $15,000. Dealers have plenty of stock still on showroom floors, and you can get really good prices on 2017-plate models for less than $15k, drive-away. Shop for the LT if this is the car you like most, because it has a better features list than the LS.

Probably best to steer clear of the regular Barina, which is admittedly bigger, but definitely not better. The current-generation model could find its way to the automotive graveyard this year, too. 

The Mirage isn't as good as either the Barina or Spark, so unless you just want a very inexpensive car, it's not high on our recommendation list. The Yaris is lagging behind the times in terms of features, but there's a reason it's a go-to for many budget car buyers: it's a strong offering for space and comfort. 

All of that said, the Kia Picanto is the budget car we'd most likely recommend, because it has a strong and long warranty and is the only one in the mix with auto emergency braking (AEB). Plus it has a reversing camera as standard (the base model Spark doesn't). 

Barinas were noted for their electrical problems. It could be an earthing problem, or a wiring problem, the only way to find out is to trace it through the wiring loom, or enlist the help of an auto electrician.

It’s probably a leaking heater hose or connection of some sort associated with the heater. Take it to your Holden dealer who I imagine would be able to fix it under warranty.

The first thing to check is the fuse. The location of the fuses panel will be shown in the owner’s manual; that should also show which fuse is the one for the instrument panel.